Compare towns
Salem vs Sutton vs Needham vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salem | Sutton | Needham | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
9,452Lowest |
32,459 |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Sutton | Needham | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | Sutton High School | Needham High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.9 |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.